War on Iran, day 5

Trump to reporters yesterday:

“The worst case would be we do this and then somebody takes over who’s as bad as the previous person, right? That could happen. We don’t want that to happen,” he said. “You go through this and in five years you realize you put somebody in who is no better.”

[...]

“Most of the people we had in mind are dead,” he said. Now, we have another group. They may be dead also, based on reports. So I guess you have a third wave coming in. Pretty sure we’re not going to know anybody.”

  Salon

Jesus wept.

One day they''ll go too far even for MAGA

 You might well have thought he already has, but you'd be wrong.

Incompetent warmongers

 

But they got these guys out.

Nice job.

UPDATE 09:43 am:

Another arrow in the anti-voting quiver of the GOP

 

Iran wasn't enough for them

 

The United States and Ecuador have launched joint military operations against “designated terrorist organizations” in the South American country, the Pentagon said on Tuesday night, in what appeared to be a major expansion of the U.S. military’s unilateral strikes against boats in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific that the Trump administration has accused of carrying drugs.

U.S. Special Forces soldiers are advising and supporting Ecuadorean commandos on raids across the country against suspected drug shipment facilities and other drug-related sites.

[...]

The Americans are not believed to be participating in the actual raids, but are helping the Ecuadorean troops plan their operations, and are providing intelligence and logistics support.

  NYT

Where have I heard that before? Oh yeah, Nixon in Cambodia.

In a 30-second video released by the military’s Southern Command, a helicopter is seen taking off in early morning or dusk, flying over an area, then picking up soldiers. The U.S. official said the video depicted the first in what was expected to be a series of raids across the country, some with U.S. advisers assisting nearby, some with Ecuadorean forces only. In this instance, involving mostly Ecuadorean forces, the official said, it was unclear what the mission’s objective was or whether it was successful.

So, just general chaos and bloodletting. Adds to the end of the world scenario being acted out by Christian nationalist zealots.

Christian nationalists, eager for the end of the world, are running this show

“This morning our commander opened up the combat readiness status briefing by urging us to not be “afraid” as to what is happening with our combat operations in Iran right now. He urged us to tell our troops that this was “all part of God’s divine plan” and he specifically referenced numerous citations out of the Book of Revelation referring to Armageddon and the imminent return of Jesus Christ. He said that “President Trump has been anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth.” — MRFF active duty NCO client, writing on behalf of themself and 15 other unit members [including at least 11 Christians, one Muslim, and one Jew].

MRFF has received over 200 calls from more than 50 military installations across all the services since Saturday reporting similar disturbing pronouncements from their Christian zealot commanders.

[...]

The complaints came from more than 40 different units spread across at least 30 military installations.

[...]

MRFF clients report the unrestricted euphoria of their commanders and command chains as to how this new “biblically-sanctioned” war is clearly the undeniable sign of the expeditious approach of the fundamentalist Christian “End Times” as vividly described in the New Testament Book of Revelation.

[...]

[T]he Iran war has been sanctioned by the fundamentalist Christian nationalist version of our Lord and Savior and the New Testament in specific order to bring about the end of the world and usher in the 1000 year reign of Jesus Christ.

[...]

Any military members seeking to take advantage of their subordinates by advancing their blood-soaked, Christian nationalist wet dreams upon the flames of this latest non-Congressionally sanctioned attack against Iran, should be swiftly, aggressively and visibly prosecuted for numerous violations of the military criminal code known as the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

  Military Religious Freedom

But they won't be.

The new American ethos: punch 'em while they're down. 

"Death and destruction from the sky" sounds very Armageddon-like.  I don't think that's a coincidence.

Speaking of narcissists

 

Right up there with Dumbya Bush's "Now watch this drive" disgusting inappropriate self-concern. What a disgrace this megalomaniac is.  

Now look at these beautiful golden drapes.

The rot inside is so pervasive it's making its way to the surface.

Okay, it's a lie, but let me ask you this...Since when is "very nearly under threat" a justification for attacking a country?

Make work for Melania

 Or should I say, grooming Melania.

I can remember when Republicans wet their pants because they thought Hillary Clinton had too much influence and positioning in Bill Clinton's presidency.

And yes, she's doing a bang-up job of it.

Add this to the recent "documentary" Bezos did for her.  Will she and Don Jr be competing in the 2028 primary?

BTW, this is in every narcissists playbook...

TACO

 

Iran attack, day 3

The war launched by the U.S. and Israel on Iran entered its third day with more Iranian missile attacks directed at Israel and its Arab neighbors as the U.S. military death toll climbed to four. The strikes have also killed at least 11 people in Israel, and the Iranian Red Crescent says 555 people have been killed in Iran.

Kuwait shot down three U.S. F-15s in what CENTCOM calls a "friendly fire incident," but all crewmembers were safe. Smoke rose, meanwhile, from the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait after an apparent Iranian missile strike.

Air travel is snarled as the war forces the closure of key hub airports in the Mideast, leaving tens of thousands of people stranded in the Gulf region — as the U.S. declines to join other countries planning to help evacuate their citizens.

President Trump said Sunday that the joint military operation would continue "until all of our objectives are achieved," and that could be "four weeks or less," but that more American casualties are possible.

[...]

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his administration was coordinating with its international partners to monitor events in Iran, calling it "important that this chance for change for Iran be used properly."

"The Iranian people have long effectively been alone against violence — against the Iranian regime. This regime, which has killed tens of thousands of its own citizens just in recent months, which has always fueled and organized wars in the region, which provided Russia with 'shaheds' [drones] and the technology for their production — this regime has brought this attitude upon itself," Zelenskyy said in a social media post.

"It is important that there be a clear position in support of people and human life," he added, offering his personal thanks to "everyone who is trying to prevent the war from expanding and who is defending against strikes from Iran."

"I also thank everyone who tells Russia — now, based on the experience of the Iranian regime — that justice does come," Zelenskyy said.

[...]

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters Monday that the four American service members who were killed over the weekend died when an incoming munition hit a tactical operations center in Kuwait.

"We have incredible air defenders. Every once in a while you might have one, unfortunately we call it a squirter, that makes its way through," he said. "And in that particular case, it happened to hit a tactical operations center that was fortified, but these are powerful weapons."

  CBS

You can just feel the compassion and empathy.  A squirter.

Hegseth was also asked about Mr. Trump's estimate that the conflict could last four to five weeks, and he attacked the reporter who posed the question, claiming it's a "gotcha-type question."

How? A bit touchy, Pete?

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine offered his "deepest and heartfelt condolences" to the families of the four U.S. service members killed during the joint U.S.-Israeli assault on Iran.

"They're heroes and represent the best our nation has to offer," Caine said.

Caine said it would "take some time to achieve" the objectives of the U.S. military operation, and he warned it was likely that more American lives would be lost.

No shit. But they will be a great deal fewer than Iranian civilians.

"Operations will remain active across the theater and across the globe," he said. "Operation Epic Fury stands as a reminder of what the United States military uniquely delivers: the ability to project power on a global scale with speed, surprise, precision and overwhelming force when and where our nation requires it."

Provided friendly fire doesn't continue.

And, the evergreen response Republicans make whenever the US attacks another country is brought to you this time by Representative Keith Self of Texas...

But that's not stopping Trumpists from claiming that very thing on national TV and in social media.

And because he was egged on by his administration lackeys and Netanyahu.

UPDATE 02:31 pm:

I suspect that's the mood in every US agency since Trump got back in the oval.

I think he mostly spends his time scrolling through alt-right social media and watching alt-right TV.

Friendly fire?

UPDATE 03:04 pm:

UPDATE 03/04/2026: